Halls Gap

28th June - 2nd July 2019

$137.70 for 4 nights

2 adults (kids under 5 were free)

Powered site 39

Halls Gap Lakeside is located next to the dam wall off Lake Bellfield and adjacent to a valley. It is a beautiful friendly park with great facilities including a wood fire heated pool that is warm all year round, spring free trampolines, playground, large camp lounge & new amenities and amazing views & full of kangaroos

We arrived late on Friday night, set up, had dinner and sat by the campfire toasting marshmallows waiting for our friends to arrive that were staying in a nearby cabin

During the night on Friday night they rains came & I mean really came, it poured all day Saturday! It was disappointing as it was our only full day with the whole group together but we made the most of it.

We attempted to go to a Bar/ Bistro just outside Halls Gap having been there before and enjoyed the experience however upon arrival we were met with very unwelcoming staff and felt like it was difficult to accommodate us despite having plenty of spare tables so we decided to leave.

We were welcomed into the Halls Gap Hotel 

 there were open fires, a childrens play area & colouring in & delicious meals ourside the windows we were surrounded by kangaroos

with not much else to do in the weather we spent the afternoon in the camp lounge chatting and playing games.

Saturday morning we headed into town for coffee before half our group left to go home

The rest of us then went for a walk to Clematis Falls. Google maps took us to the wrong place but we eventually found the beginning of the walk behind the football oval. 

It was an easy walk taking around an hour return

Back at the football oval there were so many friendly kangaroos

Next stop the bakery for lunch and a play near the creek

 After the Draytons left for home we decided to head to the venus baths loop. It is a short walk beginning & ending at the Botanical Gardens

 It started to rain again so we headed back to camp but later that afternoon we were able to have a swim in the wood fire heated pool. It was beautiful and warm in the pool but freezing cold to get out!

On Monday we embarked on the journey to Fish Falls starting at the Zumsteims Picnic Area which is located about 30 minutes from Halls Gap. 
The picnic area is on the banks of the McKenzie River and is an old historic site & camping ground. There is a wooden viewing platform looking over the river and also toilets & BBQ areas 

The walk is 2.3km one way and began by crossing a bridge and following a track with beautiful river views

Fish Falls are pretty waterfalls which cascades over terraced rocks. You arrive at the base of the falls

and as you climb the stairs to the side it takes you to different levels and viewing platforms

 until you get to the top

Once we had a break at the top of the falls the kids were keen to continue on to the base of McKenzie Falls which is a further 1.4 km. Since it had been raining so much the track was very muddy and at one point flooded where we had to rock hop to get through which was interesting with 2 little kids.

then we arrived at the base on McKenzie Falls

We were worries about how the kids were going to walk to 3.7km trek back to the car, Kayleigh had a sleep in the carrier and Mason walked 90% of the way with a short piggy back at the end.

This is one of my favourite walks we have done so far .

Then it was back to our camp for another dip in the heated pool.

Tuesday was pack up day but before we headed home we decided to pop into Silverband Falls this is an easy 1.4 km return walk from the car park. 

 

We have been here before & there wasnt much of a flow that you could touch the water which your hands and not get your clothes wet however with the heavy rain there was a lot more water flowing

on the way back to the car park we had some fun in the trees